Consecrate the 8th: Ireland Turns to Mary

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By Rodney Pelletier, ChurchMilitant, October 24, 2017

DUBLIN (ChurchMilitant.com) – Irish pro-life advocates are turning to the Blessed Virgin Mary to keep Ireland one of the most pro-life countries in the world.

Consecrate the 8th is a new effort to uphold the 8th Amendment to Ireland’s Constitution, which is being threatened by abortion activists both inside and outside Ireland. It’s also a move to ask the faithful to consecrate themselves and priests to consecrate their parishes to the Immmaculate Heart of Mary.

The event, publicized on Facebook, declares, “There is a fight on for Ireland, our faith and our unborn. Will you join us?” It continues, “We know that Our Lady only needs to be implored in order to step in. She can save this country but we need to ask her to do so.”

The Eighth Amendment recognizes that unborn babies have “the right to life” and the child’s life is equal to the mother’s. Ireland has some of the strongest pro-life laws in the world, and abortions are difficult to obtain. Most women seeking abortions travel to Great Britain, where abortions are far easier to procure.

“We can see the stacked deck against the 8th Amendment in Ireland,” Elaine Haughian, one of the organizers, told Church Militant. “And while all the work on the ground is good and essential, we see the way to a true victory is really going to be based on grace and something of a miracle.”

She warns that it’s a “losing combination” to make the pro-life effort a strictly secular movement, adding that “we sacrifice much of God’s grace.”

The answer Haughian and other organizers are suggesting is for people to consecrate their parishes, themselves and the Eighth Amendment itself to Our Lady on December 8, the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception — one of the chief Marian feast days in the Church.

The consecration prayer they are using is as follows:

Consecration to the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary

In the presence of Almighty God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, witnessed by Heaven and earth, I declare solemnly that I freely and with all my heart consecrate myself to the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary. In this heart given to me by Christ while hanging on the Cross I wish to live, to act and to die.

This heart is my refuge and the way that leads me to God. Mercifully deign O Mary to take me wholly and entirely as they property and possession. Mold, form and protect my heart inside thine own Immaculate Heart. Teach me to live always in union with thee, through thee, with thee, in thee, for thee. Hence in union with thee I will likewise magnify the Lord.

All the souls entrusted to me, I hand over to thee. All my intentions I place with the greatest confidence in thy motherly care.

I especially consecrate to Thee dear mother Ireland’s 8th Amendment of the Constitution. Please keep this defense of our unborn children under the mantle of thy motherly protection. I give Ireland to Thee dear mother, all its people born and unborn, all generations past, present and future, to love and serve you in order to love and serve thy Son. May love for Thee and praise for the Lord resound from one corner of our land to the other.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Haughian says already several parishes will be joining in the effort, and she and other organizers are hoping the movement will spread quickly.

Sean Murray, another organizer, told Church Militant, “Ireland was once known as the land of saints and scholars. This can no longer be regarded as true.”

He continued, “Ireland really, really needs Our Blessed Mother now, I think Mary has a soft spot for Ireland, at present, to see Ireland in this state She is deeply saddened. Mary called us few small ordinary people together to do this, I honestly believe that.”

Haughian noted, “We’re just regular people living regular lives — mothers and fathers, trying to get this going in between school runs and cooking dinner!”

She added, “We are glad of help from outside the country — not just in terms of promotion but in terms of prayers.” People everywhere can do this on December 8 in solidarity with us, given we are one family in the Faith.”

 www.churchmilitant.com/news/article/irish-pro-life-advocates-turning-to-the-blessed-virgin-mary